Self-propelling mechanism

ABSTRACT

A self-propelling mechanism for use with a skid mounted core drilling apparatus is provided that includes a skid with a frame carried core drilling apparatus slidably mounted thereon, a pair of feet pivotedly secured to the core drilling apparatus selectively engageable with the skid and hydraulically operated linkage mechanism connecting the skid and the frame for selfpropelling of the skid.

United States Patent 1191 1 Guest SELF-PROPELLING MECHANISM [7 5] inventor: George W. Guest, Benton Twp.,

County of Lackawanna, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Sprague & Henwood, Incorporated, Scranton, Pa. 1

[22 Filed: May 29,1974

211 App1.No.:474,233

[52] U.S. Cl. 180/8 C, 180/4 [51] Int. Cl B62d 57/02 [58] Field of Search 180/4, 8 C, 8 D, 8 R

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,715,745 6/1929 Edmondson 180/8 C 1451 Dec. 10, 1974 3,448,819 6/1969 Peterson 6:31. 180/8 1) 3,512,597 5/1970 Baron 180/8 c Primary ExaminerLeo Friaglia Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Zachary T. Wobensmith, 2nd; Zachary T. Wobensmith, 111

[5 7] ABSTRACT A self-propelling mechanism for use with a skid mounted core drilling apparatus is provided that includes a skid with a frame carried core drilling apparatus slidably mounted thereon, a pair of feet pivotedly secured to the core drilling apparatus selectively engageable with the skid and hydraulically operated linkage mechanism connecting the 'skid and the frame for self-propelling of the skid.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures I 1 SELF-PROPELLING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a hydraulically operated mechanism for self-propelling a skid and the apparatus carried thereon.

2 Description of the Prior Art It has been common practice to mount core drilling apparatus onto a skid. The skid mounting provides a sturdy platform for drilling which can be used in rough terrain or where heavy surface loading could cause the apparatus to sink or mire down. The skids are commonly moved by a tractor or truck which often becomes stuck and is not suitable when it is desired to move the skid a limited distance. It has also been proposed to move the skid by a sheave andrope attached to the apparatus and to a nearby tree. Rollers and pry bars are also sometimes used to move the skid. None of these methods have proven wholly satisfactory for a variety of reasons.

The core drilling apparatus is usually slidably mounted to the skid and movable back and forth along its longitudinal axis a limited distance by hydraulic cylinde'rs mounted to the skid and the apparatus frame.

The self-propelling mechanism of my invention provides for movement of the skid without outside assistance forwardly or on a pivotal axis about one of the skid runners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to self-propelling mechanism used in conjunction with a skid mounted core drilling apparatus wherein a' pair of feet pivotedly secured to each runner of the skid are actuated by the action of hydraulic cylinders connected between the skid and core drilling apparatus frame for skid movement.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a self-propelling mechanism which is entirely self contained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a selfpropelling mechanism which is fast and positive in its operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a selfpropelling mechanism that is simple to construct and relatively free from maintenance problems.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The nature and characteristic features of the-invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus in accordance with the invention illustrating the selfpro'pelling mechanism in an inactive position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view. enlarged, showing a portion of the self-propelling mecha nism in position for use;

FIG.. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken approxi mately on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view on a reduced scale illustrating the self-propelling apparatus beginning to move the skid along the ground;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the skid moved further along the ground; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the skid in a position where the self-propelling mechanism is fully extended.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the apparatus therein illustrated includes a drag skid base 10 having runners 11 connected with end plates 12. The runners 11 are preferably fabricated of structural steel I beams with top and bottom flanges l4 and I5 and a vertical connecting web or plate 16. The top flanges 14 each has an upper surface 17 which carries flanges 19 of beams 20 of slide frame 21. The flanges 19 are retained by plates 22 fastened to flanges 14 by bolts 23 and nuts 24 and are restrained from transverse movement but may move along the flanges 14. The slide frame 21 has cross members (not shown) to retain the beams 20 in fixed and spaced relation to each other.

-A core drilling apparatus 30 of conventional type is carried by the frame 21 and includes a drill head assembly 31 with vertically movable drill rod head 32 connected to a transmission 33 which is secured to a power plant 34 such as a diesel engine all carried on and movable with the slide frame 21. The power plant 34 has a hydraulic circuit associated with it which includes a pump and its sump with a manually operable control valve V providing a supply of fluid under pressure with lines 41 and lines 42 connected to the pump 40 and valve V and to opposite ends 43 and 44 of a pair of hydraulic cylinders 45 with piston rods 46 connected to the vertical plates 47 of beams 20 and at end 43 to plates 50 on the runners ll of skid base 10 to provide controlled back and forward movement of the slide frame 21 along the skid base 10. The hydraulic cylinders 45 are primarily used to move the drill head assembly 31 to a convenient position to permit raising and lowering of drilling tools and also for driving and hydraulic cylinders 45 are also operated to move the frame 21 forward to drilling position as desired and for self-propulsion as hereinafter explained.

The self-propelling mechanism includes two brackets 51 secured to the slide frame 21 at or near the power plant 34. The brackets 51 each has an arm 52 pivotally secured thereto by pivot bolts 55 carried in elongated slots 56 in the arms 52permit'ting the arms to pivot about bolts 55 and move the length of the slots 56'.

The arms 52 each has a handle portion 60, a main portion 61 which has the slot 56 therein, and inwardly extending bosses 62 carrying pins 63 which have springs 64 urging them inwardly towards the center of the base 10. The pivot pins 63 each has an end 65, a central portion 66 and a knob 67. The pivot pins 63 by retraction against the force of the springs 64 and release can be positioned above the plates 22 as in FIG. 1 in an inactive position or in an inactive position below 3 the flanges 14 to serve as fulcrums and provide slidable support of the skid base. v

The arms 52 at their ends opposite the handles 60 have a bolt 69 and nut 70 therethroug'h pivotedly connectingthe arm to brackets 71 on feet 75.

The feet 75 are of a type suited to the terrain and for soft earth can be of T-shape with a transverse bearing plate 76 to which the brackets 71 are secured and a plate 77 secured to plate 76 on the side opposite to brackets 71 for engagement with the earth.

The mode of operation will now be pointed out.

In normal use when the apparatus is at rest the arms 52 have their pivot pins 63 extended inwardly and restingon top of the plate 22 holding the feet 75 above and out of engagement with the ground. When it is desired to move the skid base 10 to a new location the operator pulls out the pivot pins 63 against the springs 64 and moves the arms 52 until thepivot pins are under the flanges 14 when the pins are released. Prior to movement of the base 10 the cylinders 45 are in the retracted position as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. To move base 10 fluid under pressure is supplied to the cylinders 45 by pipes 41 and the piston rods 46 are advanced. to the left (FIG. causing the frame 21 and thereby plates 77 of feet 75 to dig into the ground as arms 52 pivot about pins 63, the slots 56 accommodating angularity. Further movement of rods 46 and frame 21 to the left causes the skid base to be lifted off the ground and move forward pivoting about the pivot pins 63. When the rod 46 is in fully extended'position the pivot pins 63 are pulled out and fluid pressure in cylinders 45 is reversed causing the slide frame 21 to move to the right to retracted position pulling the feet 75 out of ground engagement. The cycle can be repeated as desired.

If it is desired to turn the skid base 10 then the arm 52 on the side to which the turn is desired is not moved to ground engaging position but left with pivot pin 63 on top of plate 22 and the skid base 10 will pivot by the action of the active arm 52 as the piston rod 46 advances as described above.

It will thus be seen that self-propelling apparatus has been described with which the objects of the invention are achieved.

I claim:

l. The combination of a core drilling mechanism mounted on a frame slidably carried on a skid base,

5 means for moving said mechanism along saidskid base,

and means for moving the skid base along the ground, comprising a pair of arms pivotedly mounted to said slide frame on opposite sides thereof and of a length to engage the ground,

fulcrum means carried by said arms for selective positioning in active and inactive engagement with respect to said skid base, and

ground engaging-means carried by said arms, said fulcrum means when in active engagement being responsive to movement of the slide frame relative to the skid base to cause engagement of the arms with the ground and lift and slidably support the skid base whereby continuance of said relative movement advances the skid base relative to ground.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said means for moving said frame is power operated and said power operated means is effective when said fulcrum means is in said active engagement for moving said skid base along the surface of the ground.

mounted to said arms at end portions thereof. l 

1. The combination of a core drilling mechanism mounted on a frame slidably carried on a skid base, means for moving said mechanism along said skid base, and means for moving the skid base along the ground, comprising a pair of arms pivotedly mounted to said slide frame on opposite sides thereof and of a length to engage the ground, fulcrum means carried by said arms for selective positioning in active and inactive engagement with respect to said skid base, and ground engaging means carried by said arms, said fulcrum means when in active engagement being responsive to movement of the slide frame relative to the skid base to cause engagement of the arms with the ground and lift and slidably support the skid base whereby continuance of said relative movement advances the skid base relative to ground.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said means for moving said frame is power operated and said power operated means is effective when said fulcrum means is in said active engagement for moving said skid base along the surface of the ground.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said arms are provided with elongated slots, and pivot members are provided in engagement with said frame and in said slots.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said arms are provided with handle portions.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said fulcrum means comprise retractible resiliently urged pins carried in bosses on said arms.
 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said ground engaging means are feet pivotedly mounted to said arms at end portions thereof. 